Moradabad tense after BJP MPs, police clash over mahapanchayat ban

Moradabad: The issue of holding of a 'mahapanchayat' in Kanth area on Friday turned into a violent protest, during which Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders including four MPs, and an MLA who was accused in the Muzaffarnagar riots were detained.

The 'mahapanchayat' or gathering was called by the state BJP in defiance of the state order, after a recent dispute in Kanth, over removal of a loudspeaker from a temple, which led to communal tension in the area.

Meanwhile, in Lucknow, Inspector General of Police (Law and Order), Amrendra Singh Sengar told reporters that 210 people, including Moradabad MP Kunwar Sarvesh Kumar Singh and former MLA Rajesh, were also detained.

Supporters and workers led by partymen and members of RSS and Hindu Maha Sabha blocked train lines and resorted to stone-pelting, following which the police used tear gas shells to dispel the crowd.

Sengar said that when efforts were made to remove the blockade the mob indulged into stone-pelting in which Moradabad District Magistrate Chandra Kant sustained serious injury in his eye and has been referred to Delhi.

He said that at around 2 pm, around 400 people blocked the railway track.

Rail traffic routes were disturbed due to the agitation. Train services in both the lines were also affected, ADRM Moradabad Division, Hitendra Mehrotra said.

While train lines were later cleared of the crowd, few trains were also diverted through other lines.

Section 144 was imposed in the area. All roads were sealed.

Meanwhile, the BJP said that the action of the Uttar Pradesh government was the result of the ‘frustration’ of the Samajwadi Party that lost in the Lok Sabha elections and warned that today's incident will further ‘flare up’ the already charged atmosphere.